Bishop William Morgan's Bible

Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales larger image

about 1988 Kneeler commemorating the anniversary of William Morgan's Bible. technique: embroidery Church of St David, Llanarth, Ceredigion communion rail The printing of the Bible in the Welsh language in 1588 was a landmark both in the progress of the Protestant Reformation in Wales, and in the history and development of the language itself. William Morgan (c.1545-1604), then rector of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, and subsequently Bishop of Llandaff and St Asaph, was a considerable Hebrew and Greek scholar. Glanmor Williams said that 'though the language of his Bible was somewhat pedantic, he incorporated with the vigour and purity of the medieval classics a new flexibility and wider range of expression. His work marks the real beginnings of the literature and Protestantism of modern Wales'. In 1988 there were widespread celebrations and commemorations throughout Wales of the 400th anniversary of the translation, and the working of this kneeler was part of that. The design incorporates the candle, a reference both to the light of the gospel and to Christ as the light of the world, but possibly also to that other product of the Protestant Reformation in Wales, the 'Canwyll y Cymry' of Rhys Prichard (c.1579-1644) published posthumously from 1659 onwards.  (ObjectID=1143 ImageID=2188) Original File Name=_MG_6480.jpg

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• the Bible as a book 

Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales